comb out
To remove by combing; to thoroughly comb; to thoroughly comb so as to remove something…To remove (something) by combing; to thoroughly comb (something); to thoroughly comb (something) so as to remove something else from it (such as tangles, dirt, or nits).
» If you'll just sit still I think I can comb out the knots in your hair.
Meaning
2 senses(transitive)To remove (something) by combing; to thoroughly comb (something); to thoroughly comb (something) so as to remove something else from it (such as tangles, dirt, or nits).
I combed out the tangles in my hair. I combed them all out with that fancy comb that Ashley gave me.
You have to comb out the dog's coat regularly. You need to comb all the tangles out of it.
(figuratively, transitive)To winnow; for example, to exempt (someone) from a military draft by filtering them out of the list.
The government combed out some people from the compulsory action.
We've finally combed out this list by removing the newly ineligible people from it.
- smoothen and neaten with or as with a comb
- remove unwanted elements
Examples
2 sentencesIf you'll just sit still I think I can comb out the knots in your hair.
A maid came in to comb out her long hair, and brought the finest linen for her use.
deEine Maid kam, um ihr das lange Haar zu flechten, und brachte zu ihrem Gebrauche das feinste Leinen mit. — Pfirsichbaeumchen
Forms
combs out, combing out, combed out, combed out| Base form | comb out · to comb out |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | combs out |
| Present participle | combing out |
| Past simple | combed out |
| Past participle | combed out |
irregular
Phrasal verbs
4 phrasal verbsSynonyms
3 synonyms- smoothen and neaten with or as with a comb:combdisentangle
- remove unwanted elements:weed out
Word family
5 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Phrasal verbs: introduction — Because it is a phrasal verb